Trunnion connection



Aug. 11, 1931. J. P. RATIGAN 1,818,161

TRUNNION CONNECTION Filed 001;. 3, 1928 Gum Patented Aug. 11, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JAMES P. RA'IIGAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TRUNNION CONNECTION Application filed October 3, 1928.

This invention relates to trunnion connections of the type employed, for example, for connecting a saddle to the cables that are operated by the walking beam of wellpumping apparatus, but it is to be understood that the connection may be employed anywhere that such connections are useful.

It has been quite common to employ cotter pins, or keys, in the trunnions of saddles and like oil well tools for preventing accidental separation of the trunnions from the eyes in which said trunnions are supported, and an object of this invention is to provide a device that will take the place of said cotter keys.

Another object is toexpedite the operation of attaching and detaching the supporting eyes from the trunnions.

Another object is to insure against loss of the fastening devices for the connections.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined detailed description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view of an oil well tool in which the invention is embodied, a pair of eyes being shown in position to support the trunnions of said tool. One of the latching devices is shown in latching position and the other in unlatched position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental section of one of the trunnions together with the associated latching device which is shown in elevation and in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the latching device in unlatched position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on' the line indicated by 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is a cross-bar 6 which constitutes a portion of an oil well tool that, in this instance, is in the form of a saddle, indicated in general by the character 7, a tool that is employed for supporting the polish rod grip so as to connect the polish rod with the walking beam.

Each end portion of the cross-bar 6 constitutes a trunnion 8 that is approximately circular in cross section. Secured to each of the trunnions 8 is a latching device which Serial No. 310,118.

is indicated in general by the character 9. Since the latching devices are identical in construction, only one of them will be described.

The trunnion 8, with which the latching device 9 cooperates, is provided in its outer end with a vertical slot 10, and extending across said slot and into the side walls 11 thereof is a pin 12 of circular cross section.

14, said end 16 of the member 13 being ap- Y proximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the member 13 so that when the member 13 is horizontal, as in Fig. 3, which is the unlatched position, the end 16 will engage the wall 15 to hold the member 13 horizontally. The distance just mentioned is also approximately equal to the distance from one of the longitudinal edges 17 of the member 13 to theadjacent side of the slot 14 so that the member 13 may also be placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the edge 17 substantially engaging the wall 15, thus holding the member 13 in vertical or latching position.

When the latch member 13 projects horizontally the pin 12 is at that end of the slot 14 that lies closest to the wall 15, and when the latching member is in vertical position, the pin 12 is in the opposite end of the slot. The positions of the pin 12 and slot 14 in relation 'to the trunnion 8 and ends of the member 13 are such that when the member 13 is in the latching position, shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the member 13 project, respectively, above and below the trunnion 8 so as to retain on said trunnion the supporting cable socket eye, which is indicated at 18.

It will be noted that one corner of the member 13 is arcuate, the radius of the are being approximately the same as the'shortto 13 to UuUu Jy v11 difi'erent positions shown.

the drawings. The wall 15 constitutes a shoulder or abutment adapted to be engaged by the member 13 in either the horizontal or vertical position 0]": said member.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the invention operates as follows:

Assuming that the trunnion is engaged by the eye 18, and that the latch member is in latching position, as indicated at the left in Fig. 1, to disengage the eye from the trunnion, the operator will press upwardly upon the lower end of the member 13 with his thumb and with his forefinger will engage the upper projecting end of said member so as to first elevate the latch member and then turn said latch member from the vertical position to the horizontal position, thus enabling the eye to be moved from the trunnion. To again latch the eye in place, after it has been replaced on the trunnion, the operator will press upwardly and inward ly beneath the outer end of the latch member to bring said latch member into vertical position, whereupon gravity will cause the latch member to descend until the upper end wall of the slot rests upon the pin. 12.

Clearances between the latch member 13 and the walls of the slot may vary somewhat in amount, and no attempt is made to indicate them in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A trunnion connection comprising a trunnion provided with a shoulder, a pin mounted in the trunnion, and an elongate latch member provided with a longitudinally extending slot engaging the pin, one end of the latch member having a portion at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the latch member and being engagable with the shoulder when the pin is in one end of the slot and one longitudinal edge of the latch member engagable with the shoulder when the pin is in the opposite end of the slot, said end oi the latch member extending downwardly from a pointon a level with the axis of the pin when the member is approximately horizontal so as to support said latch member in the horizontal position.

2. A trunnion connection comprising a trunnion, a latch member, cooperating means on the trunnion and latch member slidably and rotatably connecting the latch member with the trunnion, an eye to receive the trunnion removable therefrom over the latch member when the latch member is in one position, cooperating means on the trunnion and latch member cooperating with the first mentioned means to hold the latch member in position to retain the eye on the trunnion when the latch member is turned and slid from said position into another position, and a means on the latch member cooperating with the first mentioned means and with portion of the second mentioned means to hold the latch member in the first mentioned position.

3. A. trunnion connection comprising a trunnion provided in one end with a vertical slot, a pin extending across the slot and into the side walls of said slot, an elongate latch member provided with a longitudinally extending slot engaging pin, and an eye to receive the trunnion removable therefrom over the latch member when the latch member is in one position, one end of the latch member having a portion at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the latch member and being engagable with the rear wall of the slot when the latch member is in said position and the pin is in one end of the slot, said end of the latch member extending downwardly from a point on a level with the axis of the pin. when the member is approximately horizontal so as to support said latch member in the horizontal position, and one oi? the longitudinal edges of the latch member engagable with said rear wall when. the pin is in the other end of the slot and the latch member is in position to retain the eye of the trunnion.

i. A trunnion connection comprising a trunnion provided With an upright shoul der, a. horizontal pin mounted in the trunnion and spaced from said shoulder, and an elongate latch member provided with a longitudinally extending slot engaging the pin, one end wall of the slot resting on the pin when the latch member is held by gravity in an upright position, one longitudinal edge of the latch member engaging the shoulder when said latch member is in said position, the longitudinal walls of the slot being parallel with said shoulder when said latch member is in said position, the latch member projecting above the upper face of the trunnion when said latch member is in said position, and the distance from the other end wall of the slot to the adjacent end of the latch member being no greater than the distance from the pin to the shoulder to permit the latch member to be raised when it is upright and then turned on the pin into an approximately horizontal position.

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif, this 24th day of Sept, 1928.

JAMES P. RATIGAN. 

